{"id":"F2008B00056","name":"National Health Act 1953 - Declaration under subsection 85(2AA) (No. PB 19 of 1998)","slug":"national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72210,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008B00056-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Health Act 1953 - Declaration under subsection 85(2AA) (No. PB 19 of 1998)","content":"COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA\n\nNational Health Act 1953\n\nPHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS\n\nDECLARATION UNDER SUBSECTION 85 (2AA)\n\nNo. PB 19 of 1998\n\nI, ALAN WILLIAM STEVENS, Acting Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch, Department of Health and Family Services and Delegate of the Minister for Health and Family Services, having in accordance with subsection 85 (2AB) of the National Health Act 1953 obtained the advice of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, pursuant to subsection 85 (2AA) of the National Health Act 1953, hereby make the following Declaration:\n\n1.  This Declaration shall come into operation on 1 November 1998.\n\n2. The drugs and medicinal preparations specified in the Schedule to this Declaration shall cease to be drugs and medicinal preparations to which Part VII of the National Health Act 1953 applies.\n\nTHE SCHEDULE\n\nAluminium Hydroxide, Dried with Light Kaolin or Light Kaolin (Natural)\n\nAminophylline\n\nCalcitonin (Human) – Synthetic\n\nMethdilazine Hydrochloride\n\nOrphenadrine Hydrochloride\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nDated this 14th day of October 1998.\n\nA. STEVENS\n\nActing Assistant Secretary\n\nPharmaceutical Benefits Branch\n\nDepartment of Health and Family Services\n\nDelegate of the Minister for Health and Family Services","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":2303},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This declaration remains precisely targeted at its original purpose: the removal of five specific pharmaceuticals from subsidy. There is no evidence of scope creep or expansion beyond the original intent to delist these particular drugs."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short instrument (single page)","No defined terms or interpretation section","Simple two-clause structure (commencement and operative effect)","No conditional logic, cross-references, or exceptions within the instrument","Schedule contains only 5 specific drug listings"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:** This document officially strikes five specific medications off Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) — the government program that makes prescription medicines affordable.\n\n**Who it affects:** Patients taking these specific drugs, and the doctors prescribing them.\n\n**The bottom line:** From 1 November 1998, the government stopped subsidising these five medications:\n* **Aluminium Hydroxide** (with Kaolin) — typically used for stomach upset\n* **Aminophylline** — used for breathing difficulties\n* **Calcitonin (Synthetic)** — used for bone conditions\n* **Methdilazine Hydrochloride** — an antihistamine\n* **Orphenadrine Hydrochloride** — a muscle relaxant\n\n**Why it matters:** Without PBS subsidy, patients had to pay full market price rather than the government-subsidised rate. Drugs are usually delisted when they become obsolete, unsafe, or are superseded by cheaper or better alternatives."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998","history":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-health-act-1953-declaration-under-subsection-85-2aa-no-pb-19-of-1998/documents"}}